Town of Ulster awaits state review, aims to shut down Eddyville junkyard

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. -- The Ulster Town Board will await the resolution of a state environmental review of Buck's Junkyard before petitioning for a court order to shut down the 10-acre Eddyville facility.

At a Town Board meeting Thursday, Supervisor James Quigley noted a recent Ulster Town Court fine of $350 against the facility for state Department of Motor Vehicle violations. He said the state Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing apparent contamination at the site.

"I would like to give DMV and DEC time to finish their investigations to develop additional facts that may support our case," he said.

"I received a letter (Wednesday) from the DEC that was addressed to (owner Don Mackenzie), notifying him on Nov. 30 that they had found evidence of petroleum contamination on the site and that they are seeking permission to access the site to do ... testing to determine the extent of the petroleum contamination," Quigley said. "I have also had discussion with the DMV, who have indicated to me they have not issued an end-of-life breaking permit and if he is caught breaking up vehicles at the end of their life, he is subject to criminal prosecution, which are the same charges he faced two years ago and were recently adjudicated in town justice court."

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Town Attorney Jason Kovacs said continuing operations at the facility at state Route 213 and Mountain Road have been discussed with the town code enforcement officer.

"I believe the Building Department is going to issue an order to remedy to Buck's to cease and desist from operating," he said. "If they don't comply with that order, the Town Board can authorize me to commence (state) Supreme Court action."

Eddyville resident Nancy Ebel asked town officials to take action after watching employees continue to work at the junkyard.

"Living right there, there is no doubt that he is breaking up cars at the end of their life," she said.